1. The Greeks believed there were four elements.
The Beginnings
early practical chemistry:
household goods, weapons,
soap, wine, basic medicine
The Greeks believed there
were four elements. ~ D D
___ D
___
earth air fire water

2. Timeline Greeks (Democratus ~450 BC) Discontinuous theory of matter
ALCHEMY
Issac Newton
( )
400 BC
300 AD
1000
2000
Greeks
(Aristotle ~350 BC))
Continuous
theory of matter
American
Independence
(1776)

3. Allegedly, this substance would turn cheap metals into gold.
Alchemy
In Europe,
alchemy was
the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone
(the elixir, the Sorcerer’s Stone).
Allegedly, this substance would turn
cheap metals into gold.

4. changing one substance into another
transmutation
changing one substance into another
COPPER
GOLD 
Philosopher’s Stone
The identity of an element is determined by the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. To change one element into another element requires changing the nucleus of the atom. Changing the nucleus of an atom can occur in nuclear reactions (e.g. nuclear power plants, atomic bombs) but not during chemical reactions. In chemical reactions atoms are rearranged into new combination. Atoms do not change from one element to another - only new combinations of atoms are formed.
In ordinary chemical reactions, we cannot
transmute elements into different elements.

5. Early Ideas on Elements
Robert Boyle stated...
A substance was an element unless it could be broken down to two or more simpler substances.
Air therefore could not be an element because it could be broken down in to many pure substances.
Robert Boyle

6. Alchemy After that 'chemistry' was ruled by alchemy.
They believed that that could take any cheap metals and turn them into gold.
Alchemists were almost like magicians.
elixirs, physical immortality

7. Alchemy Symbols
Alchemy Symbols

8. Alchemy
Alchemical symbols for substances…
. . .
. . .
GOLD
SILVER
COPPER
IRON
SAND
transmutation: changing one substance into another D
In ordinary chemistry, we cannot transmute elements.

9. Alchemy (~500 – 1300 A.D.)
the quest for the
Philosopher’s Stone
It was supposed to change cheap metals into gold.
The Alchemist, by David Teniers
Alchemical symbols for substances…
. . .
. . .
SAND
IRON
GOLD
SILVER
COPPER
transmutation: changing one substance into another
In ordinary chemistry, we cannot transmute elements.
Contributions of alchemists: lab apparatus / procedures
how to make some alloys
properties of some elements

10. Alchemy was practiced in many regions of the
world, including China and the Middle East.
Alchemy arrived in western Europe
around the year 500 C.E.
Modern chemistry evolved from alchemy.

11. Contributions of alchemists: Information about elements
- the elements mercury, sulfur, and antimony were discovered
- properties of some elements
Develop lab apparatus / procedures / experimental techniques
- alchemists learned how to prepare acids.
- developed several alloys
- new glassware